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Price comparison companies

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• Moneysupermarket
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List of companies
(analysed by Matthews Guide)

• AA Insurance
• Admiral
• AIG Direct

• Asda
• Auto Direct
• Aviva
• Barclays Insurance
• Bell Direct
• Bradford & Bingley
• Budget
• Churchill
• CIS

• Dial Direct
• Diamond
• Direct Choice
• Direct Line
• E Car Insurance
• E Sure
• easyMoney.com
• Egg
• Elephant
• Endsleigh
• First Alternative
• Ford
• Halifax
• Hastings
• HSBC Insurance
• Insure & Go
• Insure it all
• its4me
• Kwik Fit
• Lancaster Insurance
• Liverpool Victoria
• Lloyds TSB
• Marks & Spencer
• Masterquote
• Mercedes
• More Than
• Nationwide
• NatWest
• Nissan
• Peoples Choice
• Privilege
• Prudential
• Quinn Direct
• RAC
• Rias
• Royal Bank
of Scotland

• Saga
• Sainsbury's
• Screentrade
• Sheilas Wheels
• Swiftcover.com
• Swinton
• Tesco
• The Post Office
• Toyota
• Vauxhall
• Virgin
• Volvo
• What Car Insurance
• YES Insurance
• Yorkshire Bank
• Zurich

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3 Stars
Hastings Direct
Intermediary insurance company – Hastings is a broker, but also underwrites on behalf of Hanover Insurance Company. Owned by Insurance Australia Group.

(av) amounts in brackets are market average.
Address:
Conquest House, Bexhill on Sea, E. Sussex.
Affiliated Companies:
• Peoples Choice.
APR on instalments:
29.8% (23.5%) excessive. Deposit then 10 monthly payments by direct debit.
Cancellation charges:
20% of premium for 1 month, 30% of premium for 2 months, and so on... (£42).
Courtesy car:
Not always available, check before buying (£24).
Foreign Use:
Up to 30 days free (69 free days) OK. Notify your company of any trip abroad before going.
Legal protection:
£22 (£21) too high.
Maximum age for new business:
75 years-of-age.
Personal accident cover:
£18 for up to £15,000 of cover.
Policy amendment fee:
£10 (£16.75) reasonable.
Protected no claims discount:
Do not pay more than 10% extra.
Staff:
Not very enthusiastic. Not very knowledgeable 5/10 (7/10).
Standard use of car:
Social only, extra use costs more. Some occupations are social use only.
Stereo & personal effects cover:
Up to £750 of stereo cover.
Vehicle breakdown:
RAC, poor value. Home call £79 (£65.50).
Voluntary excess available:
• £50 • £100 • £150 • £200 • £250 • £300 • £400
• £500
Windscreen Cover:
Included free. Excess £50 (£63) good.
Cards Accepted:
• Major Credit/Debit cards.
Website:
www.hastingsdirect.com – Much improved.
Phone Number:
Freephone: 0800 015 5982.
Customer Services: 0870 573 0133 (High Tariff).
Claims: 0870 573 0175 (High Tariff).
Comments:
Not often competitive. Staff, poor product knowledge.

Company summary:

• Recently taken over by new management, Hastings seem to have lost their way as the new management team settle in.

• Not very competitive in the last few months.

Tel: 01782 838404 • Email: info@matthewsguide.co.uk
The Matthews Guide to Motor Insurance – Independent Insurance Advice